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Roberto Mancini accepted boos from Italy fans as a normal part of the game but insisted there were positives to take from a 2-0 defeat to Belgium on his return as head coach.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Euro 2020 winner returned to the Azzurri for a second spell this summer, three years after controversially leaving the role to take a lucrative role as Saudi Arabia manager.<\/p>\n Tasked with overseeing a turnaround in fortunes for the four-time world champions after a third consecutive failed World Cup qualification campaign, Mancini\u2019s side got off to a bad start Friday as they were booed off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome after losing their UEFA Nations League opener.<\/p>\n Speaking at a post-match press conference, it was put to Mancini that the task of winning back the fans could be like scaling Everest.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be even better in the end, when you reach the top,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is quite normal, you lose and the fans are disappointed and angry, that is part of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio either side of half-time gave the Belgians a deserved win to kick off Mark van Bommel\u2019s managerial reign in style.<\/p>\n Italy were outplayed in spells and had goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank for keeping them in the game in the first half, but Mancini saw things to build on ahead of two games against Turkey and a trip to France during the international break.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can pick up from the 25 minutes of the second half when we were very aggressive, recovering all the second balls, we didn\u2019t concede anything at all,\u201d Mancini said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a positive thing for me. We have to try to lose fewer balls, which is what we did in the first half, have a little more possession, with calmness and not forcing situations when there is no space.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Have to let it go\u2019\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Asked if the memory of a World Cup play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in March is still hanging over his players, Mancini said: \u201cIt\u2019s certainly something that weighs on us a little, but we have to let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can certainly improve things, think about the positives, not always think about what has been. We can\u2019t do anything about what has happened in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Netherlands midfielder Van Bommel was delighted with what he saw from his players as he made his debut in international management.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 100% happy and satisfied, but I understand there\u2019s always room for improvement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can still improve, but we started Monday with the desire and intensity we saw today. We have been working on this system for three days; it wasn\u2019t a top performance, but the desire, intensity, and control we had in the first half were excellent. We didn\u2019t concede anything.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the second half, we couldn\u2019t press well, even though we were well-positioned and kept our shape. (Senne) Lammens then made an incredible save. With the substitutions, we regained control of the game, and Lukebakio\u2019s amazing goal sealed the victory.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n